Syria: Opposition in call to arm rebel fighters

The head of the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) has called for foreign states to arm rebel fighters.

Abdulbaset Sayda was speaking as Syrian forces continued their assault on rebel-held areas of the city of Aleppo.

Mr Sayda also said that President Bashar al-Assad should be tried for "massacres" rather than be offered asylum.

Western nations have warned of a potential bloodbath in Aleppo, Syria's most populous city.

"We want weapons that would stop tanks and jet fighters. That is what we want," AFP quoted Mr Sayda as saying at a news conference in Abu Dhabi.

He urged Arab "brothers and friends to support the Free [Syrian] Army".

Rebels have so far not received any overt foreign military support.

In April, Gulf states agreed to pay "the salaries" of Free Syrian Army fighters. Critics said the funds could be used to buy weapons on the black market.

Mr Sayda said that the "Yemeni example" in which President Ali Abdullah Saleh was granted amnesty in return for stepping down "can't be applied in Syria".

"There are massacres being committed. We believe Bashar al-Assad should be tried. He is a criminal and should not be given shelter," he added.

Mr Sayda said the SNC - which is in exile - would discuss plans for transitional government with rebel groups involved in the fighting.

"We are studying the idea (of transitional government) and we will contact all forces on the ground in Syria," he said.

He said the leader of such a government should be an "honest and patriotic person... committed to the objectives of the Syrian revolution since its beginning".

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